THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 11, 1995 TAG: 9502110095
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
A quarrelsome House committee voted Friday to slash Clinton administration initiatives in an effort to find money to help the Pentagon pay its bills.
Over objections by outnumbered Democrats, the House Appropriations Committee agreed to chop job training for youths, funds used to remove toxics from military bases, aid to Russia and other programs. It voted to use the money to provide the military with $3.2 billion for such operations as the Persian Gulf and Haiti, for a pay raise approved last year and for training.
The committee's action was the first step in what the GOP has promised will be a long march this year toward slicing hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending. And it demonstrated that even at a time of budget-cutting, Republicans will look sympathetically at the Pentagon's needs.
``This is trial run (for) when we're faced with the enormous task of downsizing this government,'' panel chairman Robert Livingston, R-La., said.
The panel approved the spending changes in two steps. It approved one bill containing $3.2 billion for the military and $1.8 billion in savings by a voice vote, with many Democrats objecting. It passed a second measure containing $1.4 billion in domestic cuts by 33-18, with all ``no'' votes coming from Democrats. Both measures should be on the House floor later this month.
Partisan sparks flew as Democrats complained that the Pentagon's costs should have been paid for with cuts from other military programs. Of the $3.2 billion in reductions, $1.5 billion would come from defense, $1.4 billion from domestic programs and $360 million from payments the Persian Gulf states have made for U.S. protection from Iraq.
KEYWORDS: MILITARY BUDGET by CNB